Goodbye...

Some relations are doomed from the very start,
Hence it’s better to move ahead than break hearts apart.

The effort involved in maintaining the relation is really not worth it,
Hence it’s time to take a sensible decision, and then amicably split.

Such decisions are really not easy to take,
But it’s better than having a daily heartache.

So it’s better to thank the opposite person for the good times one has shared together,
And then continue living life, hope for better times ahead, and move on forever.

Mother's Day

Most children will express their emotions to their Mom today,
Coz today across the world is being celebrated as Mothers Day.

Women around the world really have to go through a lot of agony and pain as compared to men,
And even the birth of a newborn which gives them so much joy is achieved only after tremendous labor pain.

Never knew my Mom was so strong as have seen in the last 8 months or so,
Coz before that had always seen her living her entire life in Dad's shadow.

The pain she had seen Dad go through is really very difficult to erase,
And tears are the only thing she expresses in front of us at Dad's resting place.

There is really something about these ladies which cannot be measured,
And words can hardly express the appreciation which they truly deserve.

Mothers across the world really deserve many blessings from GOD above,
Coz without them being around, we would have hardly understood the meaning of LOVE.

Glimpse of things to come..

The last time round when i had written the article on Alistair Pereira, i tried to express my opinion on what i felt was a wrong verdict. The laborers who were sleeping on the footpath had become victims of this guys drunken driving. I have highlighted the word "Footpath" as that's where these guys were sleeping.

However with every passing day, it seems that some of these laborers are taking public anger over the judgment as a victory for themselves. After sleeping on the footpaths, these guys have taken their sleep a bit further and now have started sleeping on the roads. Nowadays while on my way to work, i see that a large number of these guys sleep on the roads. I don't think anyone would, and can justify this action of theirs. Just as I always felt, footpaths are one place where the person driving a vehicle should not stray on. Similarly i feel, roads are one place where these laborers should not sleep on.

It's true that firstly footpaths or roads are not for sleeping.. And that the concerned authorities may have given them some leeway by allowing them to sleep on the footpaths.. But if people start sleeping on the roads i donno what next...do we need flyovers everywhere, so that these roads can be left open for the guys to sleep. I just received a mail a couple of days back wherein the photo suggests a new test for driving license in Mumbai... I think that's just the way the scene may look like, when in the near future you apply for a driving license in Mumbai....

Easier said than done...

Have heard all of this n more, but the fact is, its difficult.

You know u really love someone when u want him or her to be happy, even if his or her happiness means that you're not part of it.

If the person u love doesn't love u back, don't be afraid to love someone else again, for you'll never know unless u give it a try.

The greatest irony of love is letting go when u need to hold on and holding on when u need to let go.

Loving people means giving them the freedom that they choose to be and where they choose to be.

For all the heartaches and the tears, for gloomy days and fruitless years, u should give thanks, for u know, that these were the things which helped you grow.

Wat do u have to say?

Life Moves On....

She Is Pretty,
She Is Smart,
She Is Quite Witty,
She Touches Ur Heart.

Life Is Adaptable,
Life Is Beautiful,
Life Is Not Foreseeable,
Life's Very Blissful.

She Is Full Of Life,
But Life's Not Only She,
So Life Just Carries On,
As Her Decision Was Foregone.

Blood on His FACE

Alistair gets 6 month for killing 7 people

FRIDAY THE 13TH PROVES LUCKY FOR PAREIRA

The headline in yesterday's newspaper was worth a stare,

As this involved the infamous guy in news named Alistair,

7 laborers lost their lives after this guy's rash driving,

But just 6 months of jail term is what he got for his striking.

This is not the first time a rich brat has got away,

And this shows how our judicial system is unfair,

Officers involved screwed the case with their investigation,

And this has bailed out Alistair and brought him elation.

The persons who died in this accident involved daily wage workers,

Hence an appeal against this judgment is just not round the corner,

Everyone who has been following the case knows the trial was not fair,

However with the system in place right now its fun for guys like Alistair.

PRICE FOR OUR SINS

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" -- John 3:16

PINK

Dressed in a colour which is so bright pink,

Here is a girl who will surely make you blink,

Strands of silky hair flowing on her face,

Certainly good enough for a male to give her a chase.

What's Cooking... Contd

I had never eaten Rajma around 7 months back. However after staying in Pune for 6 months and trying out various vegetarian cuisines, this was one dish i enjoyed a lot. I prefer having it as a substitute for non-vegetarian food. So today i did try my hand at cooking the same.

The following is the recipe for Rajma Masala:

Ingredients:

Rajma = 1 Cup
Onion = 2
Tomato = 2
Ginger-Garlic paste = 1tsp
Cumin seeds = 1/2tsp
Green Chilly= 2
Turmeric powder = 1/2tsp
Coriander powder = 1/2tsp
Red chilli powder = 1/2tsp
Garam masala = 1/2tsp
Oil = 2tbsp

Salt

Procedure:

Wash the beans properly and soak it in water overnight.
Rinse and Drain the beans before cooking the following day.
Boil the beans in a pressure cooker till it gets soft enough.
Heat oil in a vessel.
Add cumin seeds and ginger-garlic paste and cook it till it turns brown.
Add finely sliced onion, chopped tomato, green chilly, red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, and salt and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add the boiled beans along with its water and simmer for about 10–15 minutes.
Finally add the Garam masala powder and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Ready to serve with cooked rice or rotis.

So do try your hand at cooking this once.

Confused

Liking & Loving are two words that are related so closely,

That we end up confused while using these words mostly.

Liking someone generally takes a hell of a time,

While Loving someone happens instantaneously most time.

Loving a person after Liking is commonly heard,

While Liking a person after Loving sounds absurd.

Some say to love someone is to love unconditionally,

But the fact is that saying is not easy to follow actually.

After liking a person, one would definitely not want to be the cause of their hurt,

But to prevent it from happening invariably, one should always stay alert.

There's no point blaming the opposite person for any mess,

When the feelings to that person are not really expressed.

Liking a person is something i have felt and have expressed,

But loving that person is something i have left unaddressed.

Difference between liking and loving has left me confused.

And it really seems i have come out of this more bruised.

Grow Up: Media

Don't know what one should say after hearing such crap. Passing the buck is fine. But not to this extent.

Who is responsible for India's loss in the first match of the World Cup to Bangladesh? Is it Dravid, Chappell, Sachin, or Sehwag. No it's Mrs. Indira Gandhi. How come? I thought she had died long back. Tell me how is she to blame? Fool, don't you know it was she who created Bangladesh!

However the way TV news channels and newspapers cover news nowadays, even this has earned its place on some channels and papers. What more can one say about way the media portrays itself nowadays.

Another news item i have mostly heard on some popular news channels. A person has died somewhere, the person hosting the news asks his news reporter at the funeral site, " Waha pe kya mahaul hai" (How is the atmosphere around there). Obviously the reporter would not say, "Yaha pe khushi ka mahaul hai" (People are celebrating his death here). Hearing such crap and breaking news inside people's homes has really showed the level of news coverage nowadays.

Actions Misguide Sometimes

The other day while coming back from office, my bus was stuck in traffic as usual. The bus then halted at the signal for some time. I was sitting at the window seat and that's when i noticed this traffic policeman who caught attention from everyone around.

Unlike the regular traffic policemen we see everyday, this guy happened to be very animated in his actions. The way he was moved his body and gave directions just reminded me of Billy Bowden (International cricket umpire from New Zealand who is considered the best in terms of his animated actions on the cricket field). He was whistling continuously and loudly, waving his arms around. Suddenly everyone in the bus and on the road had their eyes set on him. This just went on for 3-4 minutes. Even the people in the surrounding buildings were looking at him from various floors.

Everyone was appreciating the way he was going about his work. I was even tempted to take a video of him from my mobile camera. As i did not want others in the bus looking at me if i did this, i avoided the same. So you can only imagine the effect this traffic policeman had on everyone. People were just smiling around. However the events that followed this i never expected. It made me realize that what i had seen was only because there was some special occasion.

Suddenly a fleet of cars arrived, followed by various Police vehicles. Some important ministers or foreign dignitaries were passing though that road, probably on their way to the international airport. Everyone realized then that the events that we watched earlier was just an act for the "big persons" who passed by. The following 2 days i just could not notice that animated traffic policeman .

One can't blame the Traffic Policeman; he was just doing his job to impress his superiors, just as an employee in his office would do to impress his seniors. Anyways on the lighter side it's that time of the year when most companies give their employees the annual raise which he or she deserves. Hopefully the superiors are watching their employees the year round, and not getting impressed by their "actions" just before appraisal time.

Relations

Relations can be inherited by birth or formed in the natural course,
However what matters in the end is there should be no remorse.

Maintaining relations with one and all is kind of a challenge in every sense,
And the feeling one derives after achieving this is really very immense.

There are also some relations that are forgotten in the due course of time,
But it is not something like a person has committed a heinous crime.

Ideally relations need to be strengthened with every passing day,
But invariably in today's world most relations seem to be going astray.

Time is something which is really needed for maintaining a relation,
Coz without that cracks would definitely start appearing in its foundation.

Just boasting about one's so called relations is really not enough,
Coz what matters in the end is who stands by U when you're in the rough.

How Related are U?

Happy Birthday DAD!

(18-02-1941 to 31-10-2006)

A year back we really did not think about this,

That a year from then you would give us all a miss.

Missing you in person is something we will all have to live with,

Hence your thoughts are something we always look up to indeed.

You lived a life that was really so simple in every sense,
And thinking about it gives a pleasure which is really immense.

The pain which you had to endure in your final days was not what you deserved,

However the resolve which you displayed even then was something unheard.

Returning to your house was something you desired for long,

However seeing you very tired GOD decided to call you along.

Wishing you in person now, is something that has ended,

Hence by celebrating your life, we will have to be contented.

Happy Birthday DAD!

Jealous Guy

She came into my life unknowingly,

Played a role in my decisions unintentionally,

By being part of my life she changed my mentality,

Hence i am really sorry for the times i hurt her personally,

Not having her as a Valentine, is something i will have to live without,

But losing her as a friend, is something which i really do not want.

The lyrics below are of one of my favorite track: Jealous Guy by Roxy Music. I always try to relate with this song.

I was dreaming of the past,

And my heart was beating fast,

I began to lose control,

I began to lose control,

I didn´t mean to hurt you,

I´m sorry that I made you cry,

I didn´t mean to hurt you,

I´m just a jealous guy.

I was feeling insecure,

You might not love me anymore,

I was shivering inside,

I was shivering inside,

I didn´t mean to hurt you,

I´m sorry that I made you cry,

I didn´t want to hurt you,

I´m just a jealous guy.

I was trying to catch your eye,

Thought that you were trying to hide,

I was swallowing my pain,

I was swallowing my pain,

I didn´t mean to hurt you,

I´m sorry that I made you cry,

I didn´t mean to hurt you,

I´m just a jealous guy.

So remember if u want to maintain a relation:

It's really important for the other person in ur life to love u as u love that person.

An interesting reflection

(This is the second article on my blog which i have not written. I liked reading it from a forwarded mail and hence publishing the same.)

Slow Down Culture......Pl find time to read it.....its worth it

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:

1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.

2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.

3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.

4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.

So how slow are you living?

Life so Cruel

Name: Flight Lieutenant Ronald Kevin Serrao

Age: 26 Years

Birthday: January 17th 1981

Deathday: January 18th 2007

Married on: April 29, 2006

Married to: Flight Lieutenant Deepika Dadlani Serrao

I just came to know about this person 2 days back. I had heard the news on T.V. about a guy who had lost his life flying an IAF aircraft. I ignored this news as we have so many IAF aircrafts meeting with accidents nowadays. However my sister updated me that this person happened to be from our native place, and hence i referred a site for more details on him. Reading about him made me feel life is so cruel at times. Why did he deserve to die in this manner?

This guy was killed while taking part in a live air-to-ground firing exercise in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. His father John Serrao was a Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) and his mom Jessica Serrao was a doctor. He had not even completed 5 years with the IAF, but his life did come to a tragic end.

It felt even worse reading his Orkut profile because we had people scrapping him on the 17th of January, wishing him on his birthday and the very next day people were writing scraps that involved condolences on his death. Life can change within such a short span of time. Don't know why GOD decided to call him at this early age. He had got married just about 8 months back to Flight Lieutenant Deepika, don't know what life has in store for this family now.

Here are some details of their profile which really ticked the funny bone in me:

Name: Ronald Kevin Serrao

Passions: Deepika

Sports:I'm game for anything...

Activities: Try me out....i'm ready

Books:I prefer them closed...or better still...in a library

Music: Can dance to any tune...

Movies: There are much better things to do in a hall ...I could never pay attention to one....;-)

Cuisines: Aaah..now u'r talkin...love to eat...donno y some people call me a carnivore though...

Job description: I always wanted to fly high in the sky ..so there i am...

Career interests: Aviation n aviation alone...d sky is my home...

Ideal match: Got one already

First thing you will notice about me: Everything

In my bedroom you will find: What do do expect....a football field???

Name: Deepika Dadlani Serrao
About me: Have you seen beauty with brains....its me

Activities: Love travelling...esp with kevin
Music: Crazy bout any kind of music..esp the kind kevin plays for me..

TV shows: Don't have time to watch the telly when kevin's around..

Movies: If only i could get my eyes off my husband...
Cuisines: Anything made by kevin
First thing you will notice about me: Kevin

Turn offs: Anyone other than kevin

My idea of a perfect first date: Just kevin

From my past relationships i learned: Kevin is the best

Five things i can't live without: kevin, kevin, kevin, kevin, kevin
In my bedroom you will find: kevin

What more can i say or write about what i have read of him. May his soul rest in peace and may his family come to terms with his loss, which would definitely take some time.

Spot the Difference

Saddam Hussein:

He happened to be the president of his country for a period spanning more than two decades,
However the fear which he generated among his own people was more than any other head of state.

Arab nations admired him as a leader, who dared to defy Israel and the West,
However some called him a barbaric dictator who should be finally laid to Rest.

Efforts from different world leaders failed in his persuasion,
And his regime was finally overthrown by a United States invasion,

His capture by the U.S. forces resulted in the start of his persecution,
And justice was finally delivered to his people in the form of his execution.

George Bush:

He is currently the president of his country for a period which is nearing two terms,
However the fear which he generates among Islamic countries is more than any other head of state.

Western nations consider him as a leader, who defied the United Nations and rest of the West,
However most of the Arab countries and other nations think of him only as a good speaker and for his similarity to a chimpanzee at best.

Efforts from different world leaders in going to war failed in his persuasion,
And hopefully his regime will be finally overthrown by a United States election,

Hopefully his capture by the Islamic Terrorists result in the start of his persecution,
And justice will be finally delivered to the civilians families who died in Iraq & Afghanistan in the form of his execution.

Physically or Mentally Raped

Recently i happened to watch a Marathi movie on one of the cable channels in Pune. The movie was titled Saatchya Aat Gharat (At home before seven). The movie was based on a true life incident and the end posed a question to all men watching it.

The story revolved around the rape of one of the girl students in Pune University by a fake police man. The incident not only covers the incident and its effects, but also the culture which the youth of today seem to blindly follow as modern.

The victim in this case happened to go out with her so called boy friend to a remote location at around night time. A person who impersonated as a cop, caught the two when they happened to get cozy. He then demanded their identity cards. As the couple did not have the same, the guy was told to get the ID card. The Cop then raped her in the guy's absence.

The fallout of this incident was the boy friend did not want to enter any relation with the girl, as she had been raped. The guy was concerned about the reaction of his family and society members if he were to enter into marriage with this female who had been "RAPED". A group of friends who were their classmates tried their best to convince the guy not to ditch her. However the guy posed a hypothetical question to one of his friends about what would he have done if he were in his place and his girl friend was raped.

The guy seemed to have no answer and he said as the question was hypothetical in nature he did not think it was necessary to answer the same. This guys girl friend then realized that the person who she thought was worth marrying, did not have the appropriate answer to what would he have done if she was raped.

The movie thus shows how the society has still not changed in regards to its outlook towards woman, especially when the woman happens to be a rape victim. There are a number of other issues which the youth of today can relate through this film.

However the one question posed by the guy, seems to have left a real imprint on my mind. What would i have done if my girl friend was raped? Would i ditch her, just because she is no longer a virgin? Is virginity the only issue for a boy to love a girl? Does a guy only love a girl for her physical features? What would i or you have done if the girl in this case was not our girlfriend and happened to be your wife, sister, or some relative.

This issue has made me think, but i feel the society needs to have a convincing answer. Do you have one?

James Blunt - You´re Beautiful Lyrics

This is a very cool song. I feel the words in this song express what we males feel sometimes after watching a beautiful girl pass by.

My life is brilliant.
My life is brilliant
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
Yes, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was, Flying high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last 'till the end.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
La la lala la la la la la
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

(The video is available on: http://www.virgin.net/music/musicvideos/jamesblunt_yourebeautiful_hi.html)